Negative Questions; Echo Questions; Questions With That-Clauses

I. Negative Questions:

Negative questions are interrogative sentences that include negative words or structures. In negative questions, the speaker is expecting affirmation rather than denial.

Grammar Rule: To form a negative question, use an auxiliary verb (such as "do," "does," "did," "have," "has," "is," "are," "was," "were," etc.) followed by a negative word (like "not," "n't," "never," "no one," "nobody," "nothing," "nowhere," "none," etc.), then the subject, and the main verb in its base form.

Examples:

1. Auxiliary + Not + Subject + Verb:
   • "Didn't you enjoy the concert?"
   • "Hasn't she finished her homework yet?"
   • "Weren't they at the party?"

II. Echo Questions:

Echo questions are used to confirm or clarify information already mentioned in a conversation. They repeat part or all of a statement made by someone else, forming a question.

Grammar Rule: Echo questions mirror the structure of the statement they're echoing, with the rising intonation at the end to indicate it's a question.

Examples:

1. Statement: "She's from France."
   • Echo Question: "From France?"
2. Statement: "He won the competition."
   • Echo Question: "Won the competition?"
3. Statement: "They've already left."
   • Echo Question: "Already left?"

III. Questions with That-Clauses:

Questions with that-clauses are complex interrogative sentences where the question word is followed by "that" and a clause (a group of words containing a subject and a verb).

Grammar Rule: In questions with that-clauses, the question word introduces the clause followed by "that," and then the subject and verb in the clause.

Examples:

1. "Do you know what she said?"
2. "Can you tell me where they went?"
3. "Could you explain why he did that?"
4. "Do you understand how it works?"
5. "I wonder whether they'll come to the party."

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Language Level